The question comes up all the time: what do vegans actually eat? As it turns out, many of our meals are pretty similar to non-vegans or vegetarians (minus the meat, cheese, fish, eggs, etc, of course). Whether you are an old-pro at whipping up vegan vittles for your family or you simply want to incorporate more plant-based meals into your weekly rotation, we've got 5 kid-friendly vegan meals that are sure to please every member in the family. With tastes from Asia and Mexico to all-American favorites, try these animal-free meals, created with your family in mind.

1. Pasta

Personally, I think pasta has gotten a bad rep for being the go-to kid-friendly food. Make your child’s favorite pasta meal healthier and more veg-tastic with some easy tricks. This mac and cheese recipe uses veggies like carrots and onions, and cashews to make a yummy, dairy-free twist on the traditional kids’ favorite. We love a good veggie lasagna in my house: you can use vegan cheese or make a vegan ricotta using tofu (bonus vitamin B12 points for sprinkling nutritional yeast on top!). There are also a lot of different types of pasta to experiment with. In addition to whole wheat pasta, you can also pick up white or brown rice noodles and pair them with stir-fried veggies and tofu or try buckwheat soba noodles. If you make your own pasta dough, you can add ingredients like spinach or peppers to make this kid-favorite a bit healthier.

2. Tacos/Burritos

Tacos and burritos are fun, DIY foods for kids. Lay out bowls of chopped tomatoes, refried, black or pinto beans, shredded lettuce or cabbage, vegan cheese, salsa, guacamole, and any other fillings or toppings you like. Kids will love the hands-on activity of rolling their own burritos or filling their tacos. Giving them some control over their meal makes kids more likely to eat their creations.

3. Soup

Soups are magical, healthy, and super vegan-friendly meals in a bowl. Of course the options are endless: a bean and veggie-filled minestrone, a soy-milk based cream of broccoli, or a seasonal soup that uses squash, beans, and corn. Mix it up by offering soups and stews with different flavorings, textures, and ingredients.